Faculty Spotlight – Karmen

This month, we would like to highlight, our very own Assistant Director, Karmen Ovsepyan! Karmen is what we call super alumni! In 2010, Karmen graduated from California State University Northridge (CSUN) with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. During her undergraduate degree, Karmen was hired as a Project Manager for the Marilyn Magaram Center, was involved with the Student Dietetic and Food Science Association (SDFSA) and Kappa Omicron Nu (KON) honor society. Throughout this time, Karmen had the privilege of becoming the President for SDFSA and Vice President of KON, networking with professionals in the field of Nutrition/Dietetics and Family Consumer Sciences, interacting with community members, and leading various Center projects and events. After her undergraduate degree, Karmen was accepted into the CSUN Dietetic Internship Program and continued working on her Master's degree in Nutrition at CSUN. At this time, the MMC provided her the opportunity to work on a thesis project, implementing a five-week healthy eating summer curriculum for children's age’s eight through twelve. Sharing her nutrition knowledge with students and interacting with them through daily activities made her realize that nutrition education was her passion.

After completing the CSUN Dietetic Internship program in 2012 and becoming a Registered Dietitian, Karmen worked for Network for a Healthier Community Program, Glendale Unified School District Nutrition Department, and Northridge Hospital Center for Healthier Communities, before heading back home to California State University as a Part Time Faculty and the Assistant Director of the Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition and Dietetics (MMC). In addition to her role on campus, Karmen is dedicated to the California Academy of Nutrition Dietetics (CAND) Los Angeles District (LAD), where she currently sits on the executive board as President. It truly has been a journey for Karmen, but she is happy to be back home, mentoring students and helping the Center grow.